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THE WORD WORKS

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)

The Word will cut controlling influences off of your life. Mark Hankins

Ephesians 6:17 tells us that the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, will reach into your soul and cut things out that are hindering you from fulfilling the will of God. Nothing can separate your soul and your spirit but the Word. God says that you are a new creature in Christ and that you have been made righteous and triumphant, but your mind is in disagreement; your circumstances are in disagreement; your feelings are in disagreement. But the Word of God is like a sharp sword and it will cause your circumstances and feelings to agree with God.

The Word will cut things out of your soul that are not in agreement with God’s Word. What happens when you begin to acknowledge who you are in Christ? The Word will cut controlling influences off of your life!

Confession: I am who God says I am. I am an overcomer. I have been made righteous. I am the righteousness of God in Christ!

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SEE YOURSELF IN CHRIST

And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. (Ephesians 4:23-24)

If you keep looking into the Word, it will save, deliver, and heal your soul. Mark Hankins

How do you become a doer of the Word? You look into the mirror of the Word, which James calls “the perfect law of liberty.” God can tell you over and over what He has done for you in Christ but as long as you continue to see yourself as a failure, unrighteous, unworthy, defeated, sick, or poor, you will stay in that condition. When you look into the perfect law of liberty, there is a reflection and you see yourself in Christ. You see what God has done for you in Christ and suddenly, you see yourself free!

When you get up in the morning, look up about ten “in Christ” scriptures. Then look in the mirror and acknowledge them. When you have a lunch break, open your Bible. If you have a fifteen-minute break, open your Bible. This is what it takes to be blessed.

Look in the mirror–the perfect law of liberty. When you look into the mirror of the Word, it will make you free. One translation says, “Look and keep on looking!”

Confession: I have been given exceeding great and precious promises in God’s Word. I have His divine nature!

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FAITH IS AN ACT

But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. (James 1:22)

As you acknowledge the Word, start acting like it is true. Mark Hankins

What does it mean to be a doer of the Word? When you see something in the Word, you just act on it. You start acting like the Word is true. James 2:26 tells us that faith without works [or corresponding action] is dead!

If the Word says something belongs to you, you can say, “I am going to act on it. I am going to act like it is so. It may not feel like it or look like it, but I am acting on it right now.” As you acknowledge the Word, start acting like it is true. Smith Wigglesworth said, “Faith is an act.”

“But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the word, this man shall be blessed in his deed.” (James 1:25)

What do you look at when you look in the mirror? You look at yourself. In other words, James is saying that if you hear the Word, but you don’t do it, it is like looking in the mirror, going your way, and forgetting what you look like!

Confession: I am not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the Word. I act like the Bible is true. I am blessed!

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THE ENGRAFTED WORD

Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. (James 1:21)

The Word doesn’t work unless it is implanted on the inside of you. Mark Hankins

James 1:21 was written to believers. This must mean that after you are born again, your soul still isn’t saved. Your soul is made up of your mind, your will, and your emotions. Even after you are born again, you still have to get your soul saved.

James says to receive the Word with meekness. In other words, humble yourself and be teachable. The engrafted Word has the ability to save, deliver, restore, and make your soul (your mind, will, and emotions) whole.

Why does James call the Word the engrafted Word? The Word will not work for you unless it is implanted on the inside of you. How do you get it implanted? By acknowledging every good thing that is in you in Christ. In other words, you stick with it and keep feeding and meditating on the Word. God already deposited every good thing in you when you were born again, but it is up to you to acknowledge what you have in Christ.

Confession: I lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save my soul!

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RENEWING YOUR MIND

That ye put off concerning the former conversation [He’s talking about your lifestyle] the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts. (Ephesians 4:22)

You won’t change the way you are living if you don’t change the way you are talking. Mark Hankins

The process of putting off the old man and putting on the new man takes place as you renew your mind and line your thinking up with the Word of God. We should always ask, “What does God say about me? What does God say about my circumstances?” We need to say what God says. We need to agree with God.

In Ephesians 4:22-24, Paul says to “put off the old man” and “put on the new man” by being “renewed in the spirit of your mind.” To put off is like taking off the old clothes, the old nature, and the old lifestyle. In other words, change the way you are living and talking.

The moment you are born again, you are a new creation, and you are created in righteousness and true holiness. You are not trying to make the new man righteous and holy. Since you have been made a partaker of the divine nature, you are to put on the new man, who is created in righteousness and true holiness.

Confession: Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth. (Psalm 141:3)

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